The FCC Will Do What the FCC Wants to Do

A guy who identifies himself as Al operates a "punk, international hip-hop, and women's music" Internet radio station called www.radioactiveradio.org. Al says an anonymous benefactor is responsible for broadcasting his programming over the airwaves, on 106.9 FM. Thus, the station is San Diego's second illegal radio station.

"They went on in 2002," says Al about 96.9 FM, San Diego's first pirate station. He says 106.9 began a year later. "96.9 was all about freedom of speech. They would have hip-hop that would be derogatory against women. Freedom of speech is one thing, but being derogatory against women is another. Why do they have to be so hateful?"

Not comfortable with the playlist, Al says he and some people left 96.9 to launch radioactiveradio.com. Now on the airwaves, 106.9 FM can be heard in South Park, Lemon Grove, downtown, SDSU, and National City.

"We don't know who they are," says Al of the benefactor who elected to broadcast the programming. According to its website (www.1069FM.com), the pirate station is driven by 150 watts of FM power. The station was recently issued a "Notice of Unlicensed Operation" by the Federal Communications Commission, which indicates that the programming is broadcast from 1847 Klauber Avenue. Such letters usually precede a raid and equipment confiscation. The FCC also sent a letter to an Alan M. Conrad regarding 106.9 FM. But Al of radioactiveradio.com would not say he is Alan Conrad.

Al did say that 106.9 FM was off the air for eight months and came back on "around Easter." He says the DJs on Radioactive/106.9 select their own music. "We had a fundraiser [on June 3] at Voz Alta with the Batwings, the Rabbits, and Hostile Combover."

Regarding the FCC notice, Al says: "It just tells me the FCC will do what the FCC wants to do. They want to harass an unlicensed operator with fines or seizure of property. It is unfortunate that the federal government makes it virtually impossible for small, noncommercial stations to get on the air."